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Gang Of Youths Share The Stunningly Choreographed New Video For ‘In The Wake Of Your Leave’

Eric Alper
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Gang Of Youths Share The Stunningly Choreographed New Video For ‘In The Wake Of Your Leave’

Having won critical adoration for their emotionally transcendent current single ‘in the wake of your leave’, Gang of Youths give the song another moment in the spotlight by sharing its brand new video. The track is a highlight of their eagerly anticipated new album ‘angel in realtime.’, which follows on February 25th. ‘in the wake of your leave’ is currently Greg James’ Tune of the Week at Radio 1.

The video is the latest creative collaboration between the band’s frontman Dave Le’aupepe and director Joel Barney. In contrast to its lyrical concept of channelling grief into creativity, the video gleams with joyousness and escapism. With exuberant character, a Technicolour palette, and a hyperreal representation of London, it presents a new twist on the golden age of the musical.

The stars of the show, however, are Le’aupepe and the accompanying team of dancers. Consisting of just three extended takes, it culminates with a dazzling two-minute group routine.

Joel Barney says, “When I first heard the track, I knew the video had to be larger-than-life. Dave came to me with a ‘Singing in the Rain’ meets ‘Top Hat’ concept that paid homage to the great musicals of the ‘50s and ‘60s. We wanted to merge elements of old school Hollywood with a modern edge.

Using three long takes and the musical-like choreography gave the video a real theatrical feel. I knew Dave was a brilliant performer from working together previously, but we wanted to push him even further outside of his comfort zone. Of course, he nailed it.”

The ‘in the wake of your leave’ video extends the momentum that Gang of Youths have established in recent weeks. The band have also toured arenas as special guests to Sam Fender, played a selection of rapidly sold-out headline shows, and an unforgettable performance of ‘the angel of 8th ave.’ on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’.

‘angel in realtime.’ charts the waves of emotions that flooded over Dave Le’aupepe following the loss of his father. Those themes are amplified by Gang of Youths’ ever more ambitious musical approach, which draws upon the alternative and indie scenes of their new home in the UK, as well as indigenous sounds that reflect Le’aupepe’s Polynesian heritage.

Gang of Youths will commence a major UK and European tour in March. Tickets for the dates, listed below, are running low with several shows already sold-out. Their live plans in 2022 then continue with tours of North America and Australia, as well as a growing European festival schedule. Please see their website for a full list of dates.

MARCH
3rd – Ireland, Dublin, Button Factory (SOLD OUT)
5th – UK, Newcastle, Riverside (SOLD OUT)
6th – UK, Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom
8th – UK, Leeds, Beckett University
9th – UK, Bristol, O2 Academy
12th – UK, Birmingham, O2 Institute 2 (SOLD OUT)
13th – UK, Manchester, Albert Hall
15th – UK, London, O2 Academy Brixton
17th – Belgium, Brussels, AB Club (SOLD OUT)
18th – France, Paris, Nouveau Casino
20th – Germany, Cologne, Club Volta
21st – Germany, Hamburg, Mojo
23rd – Germany, Berlin, Columbia Theater
25th – The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Paradiso Noord (SOLD OUT)

Corb Lund Announces New Album ‘Songs My Friends Wrote’ Coming April 29

Eric Alper
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Corb Lund Announces New Album ‘Songs My Friends Wrote’ Coming April 29

Fresh off his CCMA Award win to close out 2021, Corb Lund has announced a new album, Songs My Friends Wrote, scheduled for release on April 29. Lund puts his spin on 10 songs that were written by some of his closest pals and world-class songwriters such as Ian Tyson, Hayes Carll, Todd Snider and more.

“Songs My Friends Wrote is an album I’ve been threatening to make for years,” says Lund. “In most cases I’ve picked relatively obscure songs that have always spoken to me, even though many of them won’t be so familiar to people. The best part about recording all these tunes was that they reminded me of all the people who I haven’t been able to hang out with for the past two years because of the plague we’ve all been dealing with. All of these tunes bring a smile to my face and I hope they do the same for you.”

Lund has released the album’s first single today, “Highway 87,” written by Hayes Carll.

“I’ve known Hayes forever. We met at a card game in Dauphin, Manitoba, many moons ago and we both lost all our money to my ex, Debbie. Hayes and I have toured together, written together, drank together and he’s one of my best friends in music. This song is one of his that’s older and not as widely known, but my guys and I have been playing it for years. I love it.”

Songs My Friends Wrote follows June 2020’s release of Agricultural Tragic, Lund’s first studio album of original material in five years. The album earned Lund the 2021 CCMA Award for Alternative Country Album of the Year, his 13th career win. 2022 will see Lund’s debut at Grand Ole Opry, a career highlight.

Lund’s completely sold-out cross-country tour has been rescheduled to now begin in April. Lund will perform intimate shows at small clubs to help bring people back into venues that have been empty for nearly two years.

Corb Lund has received multiple CCMA, JUNO, and international award nominations and wins. A rural Albertan hailing from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with a long family lineage of ranchers and rodeo people, Lund is about as authentic as they come. Embracing both his Western heritage and his indie rock past through his music, Lund has been known to filter a range of cowboy themes past and present through his unique lens – from rough-and-tumble tales of lawless frontier saloons to the somber realities of running a modern family ranch.

Most recently, Lund has been actively leading protests against the Alberta provincial government’s plan to allow open-pit coal mining on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Last fall, Lund re-released “This is My Prairie,” featuring some of Alberta’s biggest country artists, which some are calling an anthem for the fight against coal.

SONGS MY FRIENDS WROTE TRACK LISTING:
1. Highway 87 (Hayes Carll)
2. That’s What Keeps the Rent Down, Baby (Geoff Berner)
3. Montana Waltz (Ian Tysoon)
4. Blue Wing (Tom Russell)
5. Pasa-Get-Down-Dena (John Evans)
6. Spookin’ the Horses (Fred Eaglesmith)
7. Little Rock (Hayes Carll)
8. Road To Las Cruces (Ian Tyson)
9. Big American Headliner (Mike Plume)
10. Age Like Wine (Todd Snider)

Sonic Reducers: Bono From U2 Says Some Of Their Music Makes Him Cringe

Eric Alper
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Sonic Reducers: Bono From U2 Says Some Of Their Music Makes Him Cringe

Sonic Reducers. 1 topic. 2 music nerds. 5 minutes. We talk Bono’s self-deprecating claims about U2, compare them to statements he’s made in the past, and rehash that time Chuck Klosterman slagged Darryl for writing something that Bono later agreed with.

There’s a Bowie jiiiigsaaaaw, waiting in this box

Eric Alper
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There’s a Bowie jiiiigsaaaaw, waiting in this box

There’s a jiiiigsaaaaw, waiting in this box. It’d like for you to solve it, but it thinks it’ll blow your mind!

Not unlike the lyrical genius of David Bowie, jigsaw puzzles are at times mystifying yet always satisfying. Not only is the Kev Gahan-illustrated Where’s Bowie? Jigsaw Puzzle a fun 500-piece detail-focused puzzle, it’s also a find-Bowie interactive adventure. On the finished eight-by-eight-inch puzzle, hidden in multiple places across the detailed image, Bowie, in his various chameleonic guises, is patiently waiting to be spotted by a well-trained eye. It’s like Where’s Waldo? but, well, better, because it’s about Bowie! This jigsaw is jam-packed with Bowie references that might even teach the most hardened Bowie aficionado a thing or two.

Toronto Country-Folk Tunesmith David McLachlan Singles Out Rampant Dishonesty with Timely “Gimme the Truth”

Eric Alper
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Toronto Country-Folk Tunesmith David McLachlan Singles Out Rampant Dishonesty with Timely “Gimme the Truth”

In a world where truth changes its appearance more often than a supermodel, Canadian country-folk artist David McLachlan is delivering a powerful dressing down of fakery with his fiery new single, “Gimme the Truth.”

From misleading politicians to social media misinformation, McLachlan’s new roots-rock stomper issues an attention-grabbing call to clear the increasingly blurred lines between fact and fiction. Fresh from his ninth album, A Little Place I Call Home, “Gimme the Truth” lands as a demand that’s in high demand by humans everywhere.

“You say hold on
What’s it all about
You askin me
All I got is doubt
Ain’t got no answer
Find it on your own
Know when you do
You’ll call me at home
Gimme the truth”

A prolific songwriter and avid performer with eight full length albums released since his 2003 debut, Can’t Close a Blind Eye — not to mention, seven of them rolling out since 2015 — McLachlan’s ninth, A Little Place I Call Home, was released in November 2021 via Hi5 Music. The 14-item release was recorded in Nashville at Beaird Music Group studios with a packed roster of Music City A-list session players and singers — including 13-time CCMA nominated vocalist Lisa Brokop, Evan Hutchings, Eli Beaird, Pat McGrath, Rob McNelley, Luke Mosely, David Dorn, Scotty Sanders, Tammy King and Tim Buppert.

While we’re talking numbers, A Little Place I Call Home is McLachlan’s sixth album recorded in Music City; he finished recording his fifth, Heartache Motel, in 2019 just prior to COVID-19’s arrival on the world stage. “It’s incredible to think of how much has changed since then,” he recalls. “For example, I played the last show at The Bluebird before it was closed for the pandemic.”

Nashville has become a creative home-away-from-home for the Toronto-based singer-songwriter and that’s reflected in the title of McLachlan’s new album. “I have looked at property there, and am toying with the idea of a place to call mine,” he notes. “I have made so many wonderful contacts in Nashville, and there are just songs floating around in the air. I find it a very creative environment, and the talent pool is beyond belief.”

Collaborating with that deep Music City talent pool has helped McLachlan bring his music to international audiences and recognition with five of his singles reaching Top 10 status or higher on European radio airplay charts since 2017 — with three songs reaching Top 5.

And now, “Gimme the Truth” is poised to be McLachlan’s next cut to cut through to the upper reaches of airplay charts.

“Gimme the Truth” and A Little Place I Call Home are both available now.

Julia Shuren Joins Italian Duo WAMI for Thought-Provoking “Lost Sometimes”

Eric Alper
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Julia Shuren Joins Italian Duo WAMI for Thought-Provoking “Lost Sometimes”

Carrying a thought-provoking and universal message of self-acceptance that crosses all ideological barriers, award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Julia Shuren has joined WAMI for a new single, “Lost Sometimes.”

The Belle River, Ontario-born Songwriting Hall of Fame’s 2021 NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award winner collaborated with the Italian music duo to craft a song navigating the societal pressures that complicate our lives. As the world becomes increasingly unpredictable, “Lost Sometimes” lands as a positive statement embracing the resilience of the human spirit.

“It’s a reminder to those struggling that it’s okay to feel this way,” Shuren shares.

The lyrics genuinely emphasize a humanistic approach to living instead of comparing the significance of our achievements to others; its liberating lyrics mesh with the warmth of its musicality.

A slight departure from the EDM style typically associated with WAMI, the track’s robust audio production gives the listener a sense of something new and simultaneously familiar. Layered pianos and saxophone embellishments construct a more acoustic song execution to the typical R&B ballad.

“I don’t know what I’m doing
As the seasons bloom
Will I come around and soon be
found like they always do
And the fire still burns
When it’s cold outside
So I guess it’s all
Gonna be alright”

The beautifully shot music video accompanies the comforting harmonies of “Lost Sometimes” with potent optimism in every frame. Visual narrative themes of finding happiness and overcoming adversity are embedded throughout the entire video — a testament to the judgment-free nature of the message.

While this isn’t the first time WAMI and Julia Shuren have collaborated, “Lost Sometimes” is another indication of the creative alignment between these artists, regardless of genre.

WAMI is the brainchild of Italian artists Lorenzo Ghelli and Federico Naso, who began collaborating professionally with their music four years ago. After achieving success with their previous releases through various record labels, WAMI made their jump to full independence, gaining notoriety with features on a few of the most prominent Spotify playlists.

Julia Shuren is an artist who has worked with some of the biggest musical acts in the business. From composing music for popular podcasts to gaining the attention of legendary Motown arranger/songwriter Paul Riser (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder), Shuren is an in-demand talent who continues to thrive. She’s currently working on her first EP which is slated for spring.

“Lost Sometimes” is available now.

That Time Pink Floyd Performed “Apples and Oranges” on American Bandstand in 1967

Eric Alper
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That Time Pink Floyd Performed “Apples and Oranges” on American Bandstand in 1967

Recorded at the ABC Studios, Burbank, California on November 7th 1967, this newly re-colorized video shows Pink Floyd performing Apples and Oranges, presumably in pre-taped rehearsal with Syd Barrett fronting the show.

Steve Kane named Director of Business Development and Industry Affairs at Make Music Matter

Eric Alper
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Steve Kane named Director of Business Development and Industry Affairs at Make Music Matter

International non-profit Make Music Matter announced today the appointment of music industry veteran Steve Kane as Director of Business Development and Industry Affairs.

Kane, the former President of Warner Music Canada, steps into the role after having served on the Make Music Matter Board of Directors since August 2021. In his new position he will work closely with Board Chair David Bottrill and founder and CEO Darcy Ataman to develop new partnerships in the music and corporate sectors and build organizational capacity.

“During my thirty plus years in the music business, I’ve witnessed first hand the power of music to inspire and heal, but I’ve never seen anything like the Healing in Harmony music therapy program,” said Kane. “The work Make Music Matter does in some of the world’s most horrific conflict and post-conflict zones to restore people’s dignity through the creation of music is both inspiring and vital. I look forward to deepening my involvement and bringing their work to the attention of the global music community to raise awareness of how key music can be in beginning the process of healing.”

Make Music Matter (MMM) is dedicated to helping trauma survivors to heal through the Healing in Harmony program – a unique form of group therapy that combines traditional psychotherapy with lyric writing, musical composition, and professional music production. Most recently, MMM launched a mobile version of its music therapy studio in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the support of Grand Challenges Canada, allowing them to bring mental health services to remote and conflict-ridden communities.

MMM’s Darcy Ataman shared, “We are honoured to welcome Steve to the team to help guide Make Music Matter into a new era of growth and proficiency. As we set our sights on continuing to scale in the humanitarian and development sector, and on burgeoning operations in our Indigenous communities and mainstream health in North America, Steve’s expertise and leadership will be instrumental. His international reach and unparalleled reputation will help extend our outreach to all those we wish to serve.”

Kane joined Warner Music Canada in 2001 as Senior Vice President and Managing Director and was appointed President in January 2004. Prior to his time at Warner, he was the Senior Vice President of Universal/Island/DefJam Canada (1998 – 2001) and Senior Vice President of Polygram Records in Canada (1997). He has also held positions in marketing and promotions at independent label I.R.S. and A&M Records, before becoming General Manager of Virgin Records. In 2015, Kane was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame.

Make Music Matter is a Canadian nonprofit that helps to empower marginalized individuals and communities with an innovative music therapy program called Healing in Harmony. From survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo to young Syrian refugees with disabilities, Make Music Matter has helped to transform the lives of over 6000 individuals in 8 countries worldwide.

Developed in close partnership with 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege, Healing in Harmony was initially designed for use in conflict and post-conflict zones. Research published in April 2021 has demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Participants emerge as empowered artists with original songs for personal healing and advocacy tools to help combat stereotypes, stigma, and shame. Their music is professionally recorded, produced, and disseminated via local radio stations, community concerts, social media, and major streaming platforms through A4A Records. A ground-breaking new publishing model helps to ensure that all royalties from the songs are sent back to the artists and their communities, regardless of socio-economic circumstances.

Watch The PBS Special: Bikini Kill, The Linda Lindas And A 30-Year Riot

Eric Alper
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Watch The PBS Special: Bikini Kill, The Linda Lindas And A 30-Year Riot

As founder and frontwoman of seminal bands Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, Kathleen Hanna led the way for countless artists looking to meld art and activism. NewsHour Weekend’s Christopher Booker reports on how the punk rock legend inspired generations of musicians and feminists.

Dolly Parton and Jeni’s Team Up Again For Strawberry Pretzel Pie

Eric Alper
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Dolly Parton and Jeni’s Team Up Again For Strawberry Pretzel Pie

To celebrate Dolly Parton’s upcoming new novel (co-authored with James Patterson) and companion album — both titled Run, Rose, Run — Jeni’s has partnered again on something special for ice cream and music lovers alike: the return of Strawberry Pretzel Pie and a Jeni’s exclusive digital version of the album with a bonus track you can’t get anywhere else.

Pre-order the flavor and album now for a limited time, only at jenis.com.

A throwback to the triple decker pie from the potlucks of our youths. Layers of salty pretzel streusel, subtly sweet and effortlessly tangy cream cheese ice cream, and lipstick red strawberry sauce. This partnership is benefitting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a book gifting program that gives free books to children under five.

The companion album to Dolly’s upcoming novel, Run, Rose, Run, featuring 12 original songs inspired by the book she co-authored with James Patterson, plus the Jeni’s exclusive bonus track “Rose of my Heart.”

Album pre-orders will be delivered digitally on March 4, and fulfilled separately from ice cream.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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